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2 Sheets-Sheet 2! G. S BlSHUP Car Coupling! No. 20.983. Patented July 27, 1858.

MPETERS. FNOYO-UTHOGRAFHER WASMNGTON. D. 0

GEORGE S. BISHOP, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

COUPLING FOR RAILROAD-CARS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 20,988, dated July 27, 1858.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, GEORGE S. Brsnor, of the city of Washington and District of Columbia, have invented a new and Improved Mode of Coupling and Uncoupling Cars; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention relates first to the formation Within the bumper head of a square hollow, chamber, in which I place an oblong square block, to support the coupling pin or bolt and link, said block being moved forward by the same power that raises the pin, or bolt, for uncoupling, and also of forming in the end of said oblong block, a V-shaped mouth, to coincide with the flare, of the mouth of the bumper-head, thereby causing the most accurate movement in coupling, the said block being moved back by the link, at the time of coupling, where it will rest free from any friction on the link, or pin, until it is again acted upon by a lever, which is moved at the same time of lifting the coupling pin, which motion slides the block forward to support the pin as it is let fall by the hand.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention I will proceed to describe its construction and operation, the letters of reference marked on each figure referring to the same parts.

Figure l, is a perspective view of the bumper. Fig. 2, is a longitudinal vertical section, and Fig. 3, a longitudinal horizontal section of the same.

A Fig. 2, the body of the bumper, and B, the link, for coupling the cars.

(l, is the V block, D the coupling pin or bolt E, the arm which works the V block C, F, the lower end of the arm being brought in contact with the back end of the block forces it forward as the pin G is raised, the pin and lever being united together by the chain G. As the link B, enters the mouth of the bumper in the act of coupling, the block C, is slid back, and the pin drops, carrying with it the lever E, which allows the block to recede entirely back in the chamber of the bumper, K is a slot cut in the back end of the V block, C, in which the end of the lever E, enters as the pin drops to its place, the block being entirely free from the lever. The block is moved readily by the link as it enters and remains in the rear part of the bumper until it is desired to uncouple again, when on raising the pin D, the chain acts on the lever E, the lower end of the arm F, isbrought in contact with the block and carries it forward, to support the pin again. lVhen it is let fall, by this arrangement the link B, block C, pin D, and lever E become self-acting. The pin cannot be raised without placing the block in the true position to hold up the pin, unless the chain G be unhooked from the pin, and should it be desired to do so, the block C, may then be managed by the pin or handle L, which works in a slot cut in the under plate of the bumper head and is attached to the block C. This slot or opening is also for the purpose of relieving the chamber of water and dirt.

. In the construction and application of the V block in my bumper head the coupling is more surely performed than in any other mode now in use, with less expense and less wear, and care in adjusting. I make the angle of the V, about (70) degrees which allows the cars to couple, on the shortest curves or any position in which the link may happen to be left.

Another great advantage of the V sliding block is, that its construction is such that it governs the link horizontally. When the cars are of equal height, the coupling will be effected with the link in a horizontal position, but should they be of unequal height, the link may be drawn forward, and placed to any desired inclination, and by leaving a space above and back of the block as in Fig. 2, the link may still have play to tip one or the other of. the blocks without being crippled or broken, the block at all times being made of suflicient heft to hold the link in poise, and where the cars are of unequal height by the inclined plane and the offset at 1, Fig. 2, the link may be left at any angle desired, and the block being free to act the coupling will be surely effected.

This coupler has been found to possess a feature of utility in the coupling and management of cars both in the safety which it secures in its sure action as well as in the great relief from the danger to the hands who attend to the coupling, for it does away entirely with the time and care usually spent and the great danger to the man in stepping in between the cars to guide the link, and it is cheaper in its construction.

Soon after this coupler was introduced, on the Orange and Alexandria Rail Road, the patentee of the ballv coupler made an examination of it, and was told, as we are advised, that the objection to a ball, would be that great wear and tear would be its effect and the reason that the inventor of the V block did not use the ball, was that he foresaw that the slide block worked more freely, and possessed an advantage or advantages over the ball which could not possibly be effected by the ball, viz that the link, has no protection from coupling and no advantage in being left in poise to couple with cars of unequal heights. And again it being self-acting is objectionable and uncalled for, for it is not always desirable that the cars should be coupled when they come together, or that there should be any action more than possible on the bumper or its appendages. The ball from its unequal action must become of an oblong shape, and besides that it will wear a place in the link which will soon weaken it, and a place also in the pin which will be likely to make it difficult to uncouple unless the link should be entirely relieved from the pin by the bumper heads being close together, while the V block as soon as it has been relieved of the pin and has done its oflice, is entirely relieved from the pin and link and lies ready for action, when necessary and without any friction or wear whatever either on the link pin or chamber, of the bumper head. One of the V block heads will last for 100 years, while the ball will Wear out of itself and hence a continual tendency to wear a hole through the bumper head and will wear off a link and pin in a year or two. The V block with its present arrangement of the lever E and chain G overcomes all other difficulties of wear, danger in coupling, and automatic action, and its use proves it to excel all other devices.

Having thus fully described my improved car coupler what I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. I claim the square chambered bumper block A, when made to receive the sliding V block C, to overcome the friction on pin D- and link 13.

2. I claim the lever E, in combination with the pin D, and block C, and bumper head A, and pin or handle L.

3. I claim the peculiar manner of constructing the mouth of the bumper, and its connect-ion with the V shaped mouth of the block 0, for holding the link B to any desired horizontal angle, and by which the block may be tipped to prevent the link from being crippled, and also .for holding the same in poise at any desired angle, the whole operated by lifting the pin D, when constructed and operated in the manner and for the purposes set forth.

GEORGE S. BISHOP.

Witnesses:

J. H. MERRILL, THOMAS DONN. 

